BeatNonStop A Weblog by Chris Macias Bee pop music critic Music geek (n. myü-zik 'gEk) 1: A person who proudly wore KISS commemorative pajamas in third grade. 2: A person who owns multiple copies of the same album, still buys vinyl and has a room dedicated to 2,000 or so CDs and records. 3. A person who wrote a five-part series about traveling with a local band in their stinky van - and loved every minute of it. 4: Chris Macias, the Bee's pop music critic, serving Sacramento's music scene since 1999.

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| April 2005 »

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March 31, 2005

Hip-hop Hooray

I always get bummed by the prejudices surrounding hip-hop shows. (“Oh, ‘that crowd’ is rough,’ 'I don’t want to get shot,’ ‘Those concerts are so dangerous,’” etc. etc.). I’ve seen more fights and overall drama at punk and metal gigs, but I digress.
Last night’s hip-hop show at Harlow’s was all about party-minded people and great music. Oakland’s Crown City Rockers had the crowd dancing and waving its hands from side-to-side with its live hip-hop. The group is reminiscent of The Roots, especially with its use of Rhodes piano, but Crown City Rockers’ drum attack projects a hearty “boom-bap” that hits like a rock band.
DJ Apollo kept Harlow’s grooving with a set of classic and new hip-hop, and some R&B tunes to sweeten the mix. Apollo is truly a Bay Area legend, and known as“the original Filipino b-boy.” He’s been in the mix for over 20 years, and as a member of Rocksteady DJs (with Mix Master Mike and Qbert), was a world champion DJ in the early 1990s. He’s not too heavy on scratching and turntable trickery anymore, but when it comes to rocking a party, Apollo still rules.
Coming next, Doug E. Fresh next Thursday at Harlow’s.

Posted by cmacias at 12:00 PM | Comments |

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March 29, 2005

New music alert

Here are some new albums released today:
Beck, “Guero”: Didn’t Beck sound kind of hopeless on his last album, "Sea Change?” He’s cheered up and back to his funky, oddball ways on “Guero.”
Morrissey, “Live at Earl’s Court”: Speaking of the downtrodden, Morrissey (a.k.a. “the pope of mope”) releases a live album captured from his recent tour. Songs from his former band, The Smiths, are included in the set (“How Soon is Now?. “Bigmouth Strikes Again”).
Will Smith, “Lost and Found”: On the heels of his new movie, “Hitch,” hip-hop’s reigning Mr. Nice Guy releases a new album. He’s joined in the studio with Snoop Dogg, Kanye West and DJ Jazzy Jeff, Smith’s longtime partner-in-rhyme.
A.B. Quintanilla & the Kumbia Kings, “Duetos”: A.B. Quintanilla, brother of Selena, the late-Latin superstar, pays tribute to his sister on the 10th anniversary of her death. The album includes two duets with Selena.

Posted by cmacias at 4:35 PM | Comments |

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March 28, 2005

Freak Scene

Speaking of “classic alternative” here’s some cool news: The original Dinosaur Jr. has reformed (J. Mascis, Lou Barlow, Murph). The band will perform on April 15 on the “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” and rock Hollywood’s Spaceland club on April 16. More dates are in the works.
If Dinosaur Jr. comes to Sacramento, don’t forget those earplugs. I saw the band play with Nirvana at the Crest Theatre in 1991, and it was not only one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen, but one of the loudest. J. Mascis is a maniac with his stacks of Marshall guitar amps.
For now, cue up “You’re Living All Over Me”; and visit www.dinosaurjr.com

Posted by cmacias at 3:58 PM | Comments |

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The "new" KWOD

The hot musical topic around town is the format change at KWOD (106.5 FM). Classic alternative-rock cuts by Red Hot Chili Peppers, No Doubt and Smashing Pumpkins remain. But all that younger stuff that comes with black fingernail polish - A.F.I., My Chemical Romance - got the boot.
It sounds like KWOD is trying to skew its listenership older, and go head-to-head with the similarly “alternative classic” KHWD (93.7 FM). Nothing wrong with that, if KWOD’s playlist wasn’t so predictable right now.
KWOD’s plugging itself as not playing “the obvious songs from the obvious albums,” but after listening all weekend, that’s just about all I heard.
What’s so left-field about No Doubt’s “Just a Girl,” or Radiohead’s “Creep?” Or, the Cure’s “Boys Don’t Cry” and Primus’ “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver?” If KWOD was really sticking to its marketing slogans, the playlist should go more like this:
The Cure, “10:15 Saturday Night”
Primus, “Mr. Knowitall”
No Doubt, “Trapped in a Box”
Radiohead – basically anything but “Creep” or “Fake Plastic Trees”
It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out once KWOD hires its new DJ team. In the meantime, can I request "Gouge Away" by the Pixies?

Posted by cmacias at 11:07 AM | Comments |

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March 25, 2005

Don't Sleep

After umpteen bogus release dates, it looks like Team Sleep’s debut album will reach stores on May 10. Really.
Team Sleep is the side project from Chino Moreno, the frontman and lead screamer for Sacramento’s Deftones. He’s been working on Team Sleep for more than four years, and Deftones fans have been tantalized by some tunes that have been leaked onto the Internet. The group – also featuring drummer Zach Hill (Hella), DJ Crook, guitarist Todd Wilkinson and bassist Rick Verrett – even embarked on a short tour in late 2001.
Team Sleep is a much mellower outfit than Deftones, closer to trip-hop than the moody metal perfected by Deftones. Rumor has it the band will be touring shortly after the album’s release.
Here’s what Chino has to say in the official Team Sleep press release:
"The best part about it is having completion of something you've been working on, and having it done right. It's fun, working with different people, everybody works differently. When I have time off from music, I want to make other music-That's what I do, that's what's fun, that's what makes me happy."

Posted by cmacias at 11:25 AM | Comments |

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March 23, 2005

Punk rock reflections

I wrote a story that ran Sunday about the rise of punk rock radio shows in Sacramento.
The piece got me thinking about my own discovery of punk rock on the radio. During high school in the 1980s, me and a couple buddies would record KDVS' excellent punk shows on cassette tapes. It's how I discovered Husker Du, one of my all-time favorite bands, and all these other slammin' groups (Die Kreuzen, M.I.A., Toxic Reasons, J.F.A., Poison 13).
I'd kept a couple of these cassettes over the years and dusted them off when I wrote the story. The KDVS signal sounds sketchy, but hearing a set that included Descendents, the Clash and Toxic Reasons was a slam-dance of a nostalgia trip. (Anyone know what happened to Mike and Mark, the DJs who hosted those old KDVS punk shows?)
It's cool that kids today don't have to dig as much to get their punk fix. And hopefully the punk shows on KWOD and KHWD will encourage people to dig even deeper.
With all this punk moshing around my head, here's how I'd program my own block of punk rock radio:
"Sound System," Operation Ivy
"Corporate Deathburger," M.D.C.
"Police on my Back," The Clash
"Rats," Subhumans
"Celebrated Summer," Husker Du
"Margin Walker," Fugazi
"Red Monkey," Thee Milkshakes
"Terminal Preppie," Dead Kennedys
"Frankenstein," New York Dolls
"Darker My Love," T.S.O.L.
"Assertive Discipline," Captain America & the Avengers
"How Low Can a Punk Get," Bad Brains
"Small Town Depression," The Makers
"Regress No Way," 7 Seconds
"Divebomb," Red Tape
"Westcoast Worldwide," The Hoods

Posted by cmacias at 4:22 PM | Comments |

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March 22, 2005

Back in Sac.

Saludos, and it's good to be back in town. A full night's sleep really did the trick after six action-packed days/nights in Austin, Texas.
But the memories and temporary hearing loss from SXSW still linger. While it's all fresh in my mind, here are some highlights and other mentionables from the trip:
Favorite set by a Sacto. band: Th' Losin' Streaks at Beerland on Sunday night. Talk about garage-rock in all its sneering, sonic glory. Mike Farrell's guitar heroics also floored the crowd.
Honorable mentions: Hella's furious and fantastic set on Wednesday at Emo's; Headrush, the local trio that both rocked and charmed The Vibe on Saturday night.
Bummers: Missing The Arlenes, Sacramento's excellent alt-country group, on Wednesday night. Word has it that their cover of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" was stellar.
I also heard that Sacramento's Frank Jordan played a solid SXSW set on Wednesday, but didn't find out about their gig until after the fact. Ooops ...
Favorite meal: Hands down (and with sticky fingers), the brisket and ribs combo at Ben's Long Branch BBQ on 11th St. near I-35.
Favorite party: The Saturday afternoon Scion party featuring Breakestra and Dakah, two slammin' hip-hop groups from Los Angeles. Did I mention the Tecate beer was free?
Most common musician request: "Hey, can I get some more vocals in the monitors?"
SXSW unofficial uniform: Shaggy haircut, fitted jeans, sneakers, t-shirt of favorite band.
Favorite music merchandise: The "Dr. Dre Sticker Packs" sold at the SXSW convention by Burlesque Design, featuring classic lyrics from "The Chronic" and other Dr. Dre productions. (e.g. "Just chill till the next episode," "Did what's his name get at you?")
Most impossible task: Sticking to a schedule. When more than 1,000 bands are playing over five days, it's easy to get sidetracked, even on those "must-see" gigs.

Posted by cmacias at 4:38 PM | Comments |

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March 21, 2005

So long to Longhorn country

It's nearly 3 a.m. Sunday night - er, Monday morning - and SXSW has officially ended. But what a way to go out. Sacramento's own Th' Losin' Streaks just about decimated Beerland to splinters with its garage-rocking onslaught. The band that came on earlier at Beerland, Austin's own Ugly Beats, were fantastic as well with their hard soul and mod-influenced mania.
The big beat continued at the Sky Lounge. Teebee, the ace drum-and-bass DJ from Norway, spun a set so hard and funky that the bass literally tickled your nose.
But I'll be honest - it was very tough to get out of my hotel room and walk downtown for this final SXSW throwdown. I'm just about out of gas from all the late nights and running around from smoky nightclub to smoky nightclub. Vegging-out with the TV set to HBO sounded nice tonight, but I would've kicked myself if I didn't milk every last gig out of this trip.
It really has been an amazing time. I was inspired by so much good music, catching up with old friends and making new ones.
Now it's time for a few hours sleep, and I'll be dreaming of home. See you in Sacramento.

Posted by cmacias at 1:01 AM | Comments |

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March 20, 2005

Encore

The sensory overload is starting to take its toll. The past five nights in Austin, Texas have been filled with smoky nightclubs, a gazillion watts from guitar amplifiers and a whole lot of walking around. Sleep? I've been lucky to get five hours a night.
Lots of South by Southwest action was going down Saturday night. My first stop was the showcase sponsored by Sacramento's Digital Musicworks International, featuring our own Larisa Bryski, Headrush and Ronnie Montrose. After that, I caught a quick bite and checked out Jimmy Chamberlain Complex (featuring ex-Smashing Pumpkins drummer Chamberlain) and the very amazing Brazilian Girls. The New York City band shares the same record label as Sacto.'s Jackie Greene, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the Brazilian Girls come to town soon.
Once 2 a.m. hit and the clubs closed down, Sixth Street got a little rowdy. A few fights broke out and many stragglers headed home for much-needed rest and recovery.
Now, it's a warm Sunday afternoon and taxis are streaming down I-35 to take SXSW folks to the airport. But I've got one final hurrah. A few clubs are hosting SXSW shows tonight, so I'm planning to check out Th' Losin' Streaks from Sacto. and then go to a drum-and-bass gig for a nightcap.
Then, there'll be a few hours sleep, and a cab ride to the airport.

Posted by cmacias at 1:26 PM | Comments |

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Lead guitarist Sean Woolstenhulme, left, and bassist Billy Mohler of Jimmy Chamberlain Complex perform at Eternal during the SXSW Music Festival in Austin Saturday. The band features former Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlain. The Sacramento Bee / Randy Pench

Posted by tms at 10:30 AM | Comments |

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Allison Johnson of West Sacramento, bass player for Sacramento's Head Rush, performs at The Vibe during the SXSW Music Festival in Austin Saturday. The Sacramento Bee / Randy Pench

Posted by tms at 10:28 AM | Comments |

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Brazilian Girls of New York, NY lead singer Sabina Sciubba entertains a charged crowd with her varied international style dance music at Eternal during the SXSW Music Festival in Austin Saturday. The Sacramento Bee / Randy Pench

Posted by tms at 10:26 AM | Comments |

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March 19, 2005

Taking a break(estra)

I've been wanting to see Breakestra for a few years now, and finally got my chance today. Breakestra is a live band from Los Angeles that re-creates hip-hop's classic drum breaks and grooves, and they're just an overall funky good time. And hello, Breakestra was playing for free during the afternoon at Stubb's. To top it off, Breakestra combined with Dakah, an actual "hip-hop orchestra," for a grand finale.
There were more then 70 musicians on stage, including turntables, violins, singers, horns and a half-dozen rappers. The conductor was dressed in a tuxedo with coattails, and sported two braided ponytails like he was a long-lost member of Boo-Ya Tribe. Together, they all played a very cool Gang Starr medley, paid tribute to the Roots and just rocked the place. To quote Dvorak, it was a "New World Symphony."
Tonight is the final throwdown for most SXSW folks, as the majority of people fly back Sunday to be at work on Monday. Lucky for me, I'm staying an extra night so I'll get an added dose of Sixth Street and SXSW on Sunday before I head back to Sac Town. So it's time for a quick nap before I catch up with some Sacramento bands tonight. See you at the coda.

Posted by cmacias at 3:57 PM | Comments |

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The lines can be long as well as the wait so you better get there early as these rockers do. They arrive more than two hours before the music starts Friday at the popular Emo's on Sixth Street during the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas. The Sacramento Bee / Randy Pench

Posted by tms at 10:19 AM | Comments |

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The popular James Blunt of London performs with his band at Buffalo Billiards during the SXSW Music Festival Friday. The Sacramento Bee / Randy Pench

Posted by tms at 10:17 AM | Comments |

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A small but cozy venue, Sake on Sixth features Sacramento's An Angle with lead vocalist Kris Anaya performing during the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas Friday. The Sacramento Bee / Randy Pench

Posted by tms at 10:15 AM | Comments |

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March 18, 2005

At the movies

And you thought the Crest Theatre was cool. Here at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in south Austin, you can order food and beer from your seat. Servers come by to take your order, and soon you're able to chow down on a small counter in front of your seat.
So forget the popcorn and Pepsi. I'll take a "Raging Bull" pizza (pepperoni, Canadian bacon, Italian sausage) and a pint of Shiner Bock. Now, on with the show ...
Today's feature presentation was a screening of "Scratch: All the Way Live." It's a concert film about the "Scratch" tour featuring Mix Master Mike, Z-Trip, Jazzy Jay and The X-Ecutioners. Fans of hip-hop DJing will definitely dig this film when it comes to DVD on April 19. It's full of turntable and scratch wizardry, and Mix Master Mike (former Sacramentan and the Beastie Boys' DJ) just goes nuts with his records. This film rates four "zhigga zhiggas" out of five.

Posted by cmacias at 4:58 PM | Comments |

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The wild and crazy duo, Holly Herndon, left, and Nicole Morier of Electrocute (Berlin, Germany) perform at Elysium during the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas Thursday. The Sacramento Bee / Randy Pench

Posted by tms at 1:28 PM | Comments |

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jackie greene

Sacramento's Jackie Greene is here too and performed at the historic Driskoll Hotel during the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas Thursday. The Sacramento Bee / Randy Pench

Posted by tms at 1:22 PM | Comments |

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Huh, what?

Sorry about that. I'm listening, really. It's just that my ears are still ringing from last night, due mainly to a set by J Church, the kick-butt punk band from San Francisco.
The rest of the night was also a big bang on the eardrums and went something like this:
DJ Z-Trip and M.I.A. at The Elysium
(pizza break)
Fatboy Slim at Stubb's
(beer break)
Baile funk tunes by DJ Diplo at Zero Degrees
J Church at the Redrum.
So right about now, it's time to kick back for a movie. I'm going to see a screening of "Scratch: All the Way Live." It's a concert film about the "Scratch" tour, featuring such hip-hop DJs and turntablists as Z-Trip, Mix Master Mike and X-Ecutioners. Pass the popcorn and turn it up ...

Posted by cmacias at 10:34 AM | Comments |

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March 17, 2005

Afternoon delight

Did I feel guilty about getting my groove on at 3 in the afternoon? Heck no.
It was a little weird to see daylight filtering through the windows of Club Exodus on Sixth Street. But it was all good. DJ P, the ace turntablist from the Midwest, just spun a really cool set of hip-hop and rock (think Motley Crue's "Shout at the Devil" mixed with "Shout" by Tears for Fears, and Nirvana mixed with House of Pain).
Back on Sixth Street, the weather is finally nice and sunny and St. Patrick's Day festivities are in the air. Tonight will be another night of rocking and SXSW shenanigans. But first, it's time for a power nap. Good night - er, good afternoon.

Posted by cmacias at 3:45 PM | Comments |

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Top of the mornin' to ya

More like "top of the noon to ya." Got in around 3 a.m. last night. Needless to say, Wednesday night was a blast. I caught up with DJ Toyacoyah, an old friend and Austin's leading lady of drum-and-bass. She was spinning at a very cool clothing boutique called Factory People. After her set, we grabbed some sushi and then she dropped me off at Sixth Street.
I spent quite a bit of time at a Latin showcase sponsored by BMI. I really got down to a set by Toy Selectah, the DJ for Control Machete (and no relation to DJ Toyacoyah). He spun an amazing mix of cumbia, rap en Espanol and "sonidero nacional," a Mexican variation of reggaeton. Local Latin promoters, take heed and book this guy soon.
OK, my cab is about to arrive. I'll catch everyone on the flipside ...

Posted by cmacias at 11:12 AM | Comments |

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March 16, 2005

'Twas the night before SXSW

After the excellent Queens of the Stone Age concert, I took a stroll down 6th Street. This is downtown Austin's nightclub district, the heart of "the live music capital of the world," and where most of the action goes down during SXSW.
Tonight, 6th Street will be closed off for all the foot traffic and bands loading into the clubs. But last night on the eve of SXSW, it was just a typical Tuesday night.
Barkers called from the front of the clubs and pubs:
"$2 - right here. $2 for anything you want."
"Hey there! $1 drafts are in here, and a big heater to warm you up."
Spring break is underway at the nearby University of Texas, Austin so the streets weren't too packed. The chill might've also kept some of the usual revelers at home.
I strolled into The Jackalope, a pub featuring DJ Jim. He was spinning some very cool new wave and old-school punk tunes - The Clash, P.I.L., The Pretenders, Generation X, etc. - so I grabbed a stool and I made a toast :
To what's to come.

Posted by cmacias at 9:51 AM | Comments |

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Texas Hospitality

In the rush of packing and preparing for my early arrival to South By Southwest, I'd overlooked a key gig. Queens of the Stone Age, one of my favorite heavy rock bands, was playing on the eve of the festival.
I slapped on my Decibel Devils t-shirt and hightailed it over to Stubb's, the great BBQ joint and outdoor music venue at 8th and Red River. But when I arrived, the box office said the gig was sold-out.
I was really keyed to see this show, so I did something that I normally don't do: I bought a ticket from a scalper. He was charging face value, so I gave him my money and waited in the line that snaked around the block from Stubb's.
I should've known by the way the scalper snatched my money.
After 30 mins. in line, on a chilly Texas night, I finally made it to the ticket taker. She took a look at my ticket and said, "Where's the stub on the ticket?" I didn't protest when she told me that this no-stub ticket wouldn't do. No question about it, I'd been had. So I sauntered out of line - and ran into another scalper.
"How much?" I asked.
"$30," he replied.
I said, "Nah, never mind. I just got ripped off, anyway."
This second scalper heard my story and said, "Here, follow me."
He slapped an all-access pass on my Ben Sherman jacket and escorted me through the VIP line. Once I'd trotted in with him, he just asked for the pass back and told me to enjoy the show.
I patted him on the back asked who he was, but Queens of the Stone Age was already playing and it was so loud that I couldn't quite hear his response.
He walked off and I moved into the crowd. And it was a glorious show.
Queens of the Stone Age previewed a bunch of tunes from its upcoming album - "Lullabies to Paralyze," out March 22, and plowed through some of its back catalog. The band played an especially devastating version of "Song for the Dead," and I thanked the rock gods for smiling on me.
To the Dave Grohl look-a-like who hooked this brother up, thanks and thanks again. You rock.

Posted by cmacias at 9:48 AM | Comments |

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March 15, 2005

Wish You Were Here

Yee-haw from the Lone Star state. It's kind of an overcast Texas afternoon here at South by Southwest Music and Film Festival. At the airport you could tell that SXSW is kicking off -- musicians with gig bags slung over their shoulders were everywhere and I was already seeing music-industry weasels exchanging business cards.
The next five days will be overrun with bands, beef brisket and everyone looking for the next big thing. A lot of Sacramento bands have made the trip including Jackie Greene, Hella, Larisa Bryski and An Angle. There's so much going on at once it's impossible to see everything but there's a lot I want check out: Queens of the Stone Age are playing a late-night party Thursday night, James Iha (ex-Smashing Pumpkins) is DJing at a Spin Magazine party. The person I want to see the most is M.I.A. -- the Sri Lankan native who's all the buzz in dance music's underground. In the meantime, I'll keep those earplugs handy. Gotta jet for now, there's a drum-and-bass party at a downtown club and it's time to get rockin.'

Posted by swilliams at 3:42 PM | Comments |

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